SXSW EDU 2018: danah boyd Tapped As Event's First Keynote Speaker

AUSTIN, TX — SXSW EDU officials on Thursday announced noted media literacy pundit danah boyd has been tapped as the upcoming event's first keynote speaker.

A renowned author and researcher, boyd had her name legally changed to reflect the lower case for a variety of reasons central to her philosophy. She is founder and president of Data & Society, a principal researcher at Microsoft Research and a visiting professor at New York University.

In her March 2018 keynote titled "What Hath We Wrought?" boyd will leverage her extensive research on media literacy and explore the timely issues surrounding fake news, media manipulation, media literacy, redicalized racism and its resulting effect on society and youth, SXSW EDU officials said.

Dr. boyd has authored a number of books, including “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens” and “Participatory Culture in a Networked Age.“ "Her extensive exploration to better understand the relationship between technology and society lends her a unique perspective that we look forward to hearing from at SXSW EDU 2018," organizers said.

In her recent work, Dr. boyd has taken a powerful look at , the widespread consumption of fake news and the cultural implications of media manipulation. Her SXSW EDU keynote, What Hath We Wrought?, will explore this and more.

boyd provided SXSW EDU officials some context related to the talk she plans on giving at the gathering.

"A decade ago, my collaborators and I imagined a world of participatory culture where young people would be empowered to actively and strategically use technology to engage with the world around them," she wrote. "Through a mixture of peer learning, self-learning, and formal education, we saw many young people develop sophisticated understandings of how to use social media to their advantage.

"Yet, not all of the practices that emerged as a result are inherently positive. From the rise of pro-Ana communities to the trolling associated with #Gamergate to the strategic manipulation of media for racist agendas, we’ve seen a form of participatory culture emerge that can be unhealthy, cruel, and socially devastating."

Given such insights, her talk will center on the empowerment of young people, boyd said: "In this talk, I will grapple with the unintended consequences of efforts to empower youth. We will discuss fake news, media manipulation, propaganda, media literacy, radicalized racism, and polarization. And then we’ll talk about the role of educators, education, and technology in addressing some of the more caustic challenges of our time.”

SXSW EDU is scheduled from March 5-8, 2018. Register to attend prior to upcoming discount deadline on Friday, October 20, to save $200 on your badge and take advantage of the best selection of downtown hotels.

>>> Photo of danah boyd courtesy of SXSW EDU